PH26174A

PH26174A - Aseptic package tap

Info

Publication number: PH26174A
Application number: PH38656A
Authority: PH
Inventors: Riku H Rautsola; Victor Krutten
Original assignee: Fresenius Ag
Priority date: 1988-05-17
Filing date: 1989-05-16
Publication date: 1992-03-18
Also published as: NO891957L; EP0342464B1; BR8902290A; JPH0236879A; KR890016958A; AU3481889A; GR3005811T3; DE68902868D1; NO170458B; NO891957D0; PT90566A; EP0342464A1; PT90566B; AU609987B2; DE68902868T2; FI892326L; JPH0587258B2; NO170458C; ES2035418T3; DK236289D0

Abstract

A tap for aseptic packages of the type which contain solutions and, in particular, solutions for medical applications. The type has a body (10), a packaging penetrating tip (13) extending from the body, a liquid passageway (22) extending from the tip and through the body for dispensing liquid from the package and a fluid passageway (31) extending from the tip and through the body for admitting make-up air to the package interior. A cylindrical member (12) of resilient material is positioned between the tap body and its penetrating tip and is insertable through the package wall in trailing relation to the tip. The resilient member is selectively compressed along its cylindrical axis to expand within the package and engage the wall to seal the orifice formed by the tip on penetration of the package wall and to secure the tap to the package.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for the delivery of a solution from an aseptic package and, in particular, to a tap for such. a package cone taining solutions for medical applications such as

Cd wd enteral feeding, as by ped agauge. 40% got! 4 2. pescripetbus the obior Art

For the pixBoges; i} the present specification and claims, reg 2 "Aseptic packaging" is intended ’ to embrace the backaging of various liquids within a carton, the carton being of the type that is punctured to obtain access to the packaged liquid. When the packaged liquid is a food product, such as juices or milk products, it is common practice to puncture the oo packaging a} a preselected location (which is often ] weakened) and to withdraw the liquid through a straws.

In Europe, it is known to provide a "tap" which is pointed to puncture a sidewall of the packaging and 20 . which has a fluid passage allowing the contained liquid to be poured through the tap.

The characteristics of the noted aseptic packag- ing systems render their use desirable in many medical applications. For example, it is often desirable, or necessary, to deliver liquids to a person by a nasal a AD ORIGINAL

- ; 26174 tube for such purposes as enteral feeding, the deli~ very of nutrients, the delivery of medication, ete.’ oC Aseptic packaging is often suitable for such liquids.

However, while aseptic packaging has been employed for certain medical solutions, it has often been the : practice to open the packages and empty their contents into a more traditional container for delivery. In part, this has resulted from limitations on package size. Howevel, nore recent. packaging techniques allow the packaging of liquid in greater quantities. Also, the tap described above in the context of food products, has the drawback of not discharging the liquid in an : even flow but, instead, discharges the contents of the package intermittedly as air enters the container through the tape

Atap which addresses the intermittent flow characteristics of the food product taps described above as disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 109,230, filed October 16, 1987, in the name of Riku

H., Rautosola for ENTERAL NUTRIENT DELIVERY SYSTEM now U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,500. The Rautsola tap pro- vides, inter alia, a fitting having a projecting/pene= trating tip to form an orifice through the carton/ package sidewalls A liquid passage through the fitw ting allows a dispensing of the packaged solution,

. } : ” . 26174 while provision is made for make-up air to the in~ terior of the package. The fitting is maintained and positioned in the package sidewall by threads which cooperate with the orifice through the package side= wall, | )

The Rautsola tap is dependent upon the coopera a tion of the threads of tpesfup with the package side~ a Po wall and alsqQ ronuyrbs a dTing hans relative rotation - between the packages” sng, Mbeine for securement and sealing, AN )

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As with the Rautsola delivery system described above (the identified patent of which is hereby incor- : porated by reference) the present invention provides a system for the enteral delivery of a solution conm tained within an aseptic package without the interven- : ing step of emptying the package into a traditional container. In this manner, the solution may be dis- pensed through a giving set and metering system of known design and, typically, via a tube as by nasal . gauge. To this end, and in common with the Rautsola : tap of the incorporated specification, there is prow vided a tap having a body, a package penetrating tip extending from the body, a liquid passageway extends ing from the tip and through the body for dispensing

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. liquid from the package and a fluid passageway exw tending from the tip through the body for admitting make~up air to the package. The package wall is also - engaged to secure the tap within the package walle.

However, the tap of the present invention employs a cylindrical member of a resilient material positioned between the body and the, penetrating tip, the cylin- drical member being inggertdble through the package wall in trasling #élgsdn to (he tips The resilient cylindrical nemesis aeadotively compressed, along its cylindrical axis, causing it to expand within the package against the package wall. In this manner, the package wall is engaged without the requirement of a : thread—type cooperation between the tap and package wall and without a significant relative rotation between the tap and packaged. In a preferred embodie : ment of the present invention, a rotation of approxie : mately 90° (one quarter turn) of a portion of the tap of the present invention is required for full engage= ment of the package walle

In the disclosed embodiment, the present ine vention employs a circular platform, the platform hav=- ing cars extending from its surface toward the packe . age penetrating tip of the tap. . A cap having a platen defining an endwall thereof is positioned with the

BAD ORIGINAL platen generally parallel to the platform and with a sidewall of the cap surrounding a portion of the body. A resilient, cylindrical member ia positioned between the cap and penetrating tip for selective _ compression along its cylindrical axis (and expansion within the package against the package wall) on move=— ment of the cap away from the platform. -

The platform of thelisclosed preferred embodi= ment is provided vith 3, pings ty of cams while the platen carriogeiilniblppdttortovers, each cooperat- ing with a ditforens ie of the platform cams. On rotation of sh8h5 bot of the platform and cap rela- tive to the other, the cams and cam followers selective= ly establish the distance between the cap platen and platform and, accordingly, the state of compression of the resilient member, That is, the relative an=- gular or rotational orientation of the platen and ’ platform establishes the distance between the platen and platform and the state of compression of the cy~ lindrical, resilient member. The cam followers may : be formed as ramps with each ramp being provided with a plateau to provide a stable, compressed state of the cylindrical, resilient member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an éxploded view and partial cute ~ BAD ORIGINAL away illustrating a preferred embodiment of the pre- sent invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as seen along the line 2-2 of Fli. 1.

F iG. % illustrates a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 viewed along the arrow 3 in FIG. lo.

FIG. 4 shows the cooperation of a tap in } accordance with FIGS. 1-3 wth the wall of a package and is illustrated as #i¥yed in ithe Wirection of the oS Ta et arrow 3 in pra. 2680 Li

CWT ATT cab

DETAIL ERSDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED oS

BE ‘EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tap in accor= dance with the present invention including & body de~ | signated generally at 10, a cap designated generally at 11, a cylindrical, resilient member 12 and a pene=-

Co trating tip member designated generally at 13. The body 10 is secured to a reservoir 14 in any desired

R manner, the reservoir being connected to an elongated - tubing 15 which extends to a "giving set” and any dew sired metering system. The reservoir 1h may be secured to the body 10 as by gluing it to a collar thereof,

Accumulation of solution dispensed from an aseptic package will occur within the reservoir 1lh,aflowing a monitoring of the dispensing

Peed BAD ORIGINAL ce

The penetrating tip 13 includes a generally conical portion 16 and an extending stem 17, the conical portion 16 and stem 17 being joined to each other at a shoulder 18. The conical portion 16 is obliquely truncated at a surface 19, the surface 19, in cooperation with the conical portion 16, providing © a cutting edge to facilitate penetration of an aseptic package. A fluid passageway for make-up air is ree= presented by dashed line 21 ang $#Eends from the sur- face 19 through the tip 35 To 89% tugough the side= wall of the stom 17" tafic ond, yhdbagevay for solution to be dispensed is ropragdntod by a dashed line 22 . and extends from I VL 23 in the conical portion 16 of tip 13 and through the stem portion 17. Passage- ways 21 and 22 cooperate with passageways within the body portion 10 in a matter to be described more fully below.

A generally cylindrical, resilient member 12 : is configured to fit over the stem portion 17 of tip 13 to abut against the shoulder 18, On insertion of the tip 13 through the wall of a package, the orifice made by the tip 13 will allow the member 12 to ex~ tend through the package wall and into the interior of the package. As will be apparent from the discus= sion below, the cylindrical, resilient member 12 will

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be compressed along its cylindrical axis such that : jt will expand within the packaging to engage the package wall and seal the orifice in that wall formed by the tip 13 as well as secure the tap to the package. The solution within the package will be dispensed through the passageway 22, entering the tip 13 at the opening 23, whilgamake-up air to the in= . terior of the package yp the package via the passageway 2. 3S or

The body 10 is propited with a platform 25, : the platform 25 hv a central hub 26 and extending be : cam members 27. The hub 26 -has a central opening 28 (See FIG. 2) for accepting the stem 17 of tip 13.

The stem 17 may be secured within the opening 28 of hub 26 in any desired manner, as by gluimg, for exam- ple. A first passageway 29 extends from the opening 28 through the body 10 and into the reservoir 14 via a stub 30. The passageway 29 is represented by a ’ dashed line in FIG. 1, A second fluid passageway 31 : extends through a stub 32 in a sidewall of the body 10 and is also represented by a dashed line.

The passageway 31 will, on proper orientation of stem 17 within body 10, establish fluid communica-~ tion with the passageway 21 of tip 13 when the stem 17 of the tip 13 is within the opening 28 of hub 26. »

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9 - TTT a 26174

Similarily, fluid communication between the passage- way 29 of body 10 and the passageway 22 of tip 13 is established when the stem 17 is inserted within the ~ opening 28 and hub 26 of body 10. Thus, a passage- 5S "way for solution is established through the opening 23, passageway 22 and passageway pail into the re- servoir 14 for a solution, #th be, lipenaed while make- up air for the package intdfior ia b¥ovided through the passageway 31 of pH a passageway 21 of tip 13. ’ . As described to this point, assembly of the tip 13 and body 10, with their respective passageways 21/31 and 22/29 in communication, establishes a tap by which solution within an aseptic package may be dispensed, with a provision for make-up air. How=~ ever, the tap, as described to this point, is not securable to a package.

Co. Securement of the tap to a package is accom- plished by compression of the cylindrical resilient member 12 within the package. As noted above, the member 12 is positioned over the stem 17 and enters the package by an orifice formed by the tip 13. ’ During entry, the member 12 is in its generally cy- lindrical configuration. This configuration is jllustrated in FIG. 3 which may be termed the package

EE BAD ORIGINAL

- TT ! _ 10 penetrating configuration. After entry into the package, the member 12 is compressed along its cy~- lindrical axis to expand within the package and en- gage the sidewall of the package to seal the orifice formed by the tip 13 and also to secure the tap to : the package. This configuration of the member 12 is illustrated in FIG. be teins OBE ute avoy element 35

AOE Cg 8 . representing the packBegawbil. ait compression gf Eyeymésiee 12 is accomplished by a camming cooper Bion between the cams 26 on the platform 25 and cam surfaces 36 within a cap 38, The cap 38 includes an endwall 39, the inner surface of : which serves as a platen carrying the camming surfaces 36. In a preferred embodiment, the platform 25 is generally circular, while the sidewall of the cap 38 is cylindrical and extends over the body 10 with the : | platen surface of endwall 38 being generally parallel : to the platform 25. The cam surfaces 36 each co- operate with a different one of the cams 27 and are’ : 20 formed as ramps such that the relative rotation or } orientation of the cap 38 and body member 10 esta- blishes the distance between the platen surface of : enwall 39 and the platform 25. That is, rotation of the cap 38, for example, relative to the platform 25 causes the cams 27 to ride up the platforms of cam-

AE en BAD ORIGINAL ming surfaces 36 and urge the cap away from the platform 25 and into compressing relation with the member 12. Compression of the member 12 along its cylindrical axis will result in an enlargement of : 5 that member in a radial direction, causing it to en=~ oy gage a wall 35 within 3 gARage it has penetrated- ' see FIG. k. anal tir pas is secured to the package wall oil orifice through that wall is sealed. AG

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the sidewall of the cap 38 facilitates manipulation of that cap during rela- tive rotational movement with the body 10, and its platform 25. To facilitate that movement, while maintaining compactness in the tap, it may desirable to provide the sidewall with a cutout to accommodate . the stub 32. This cutout is illustrated at 40 in

FIGS. 3 and 4. Also, to contrnl the inlet for make- : 20 up air, it may he desirable to provide a cap for the i stub 32. Such a cap is illustrated at 41 in FIG. 1l.

The cap 41 will also assist in manipulation of the body 10 during establishment of its relative angular orientation with the cap 38. The cap 41 is not illus~ . 25 trated in FIGS. 2-4, Further, to reduce friction a he | | | BAD ORIGINAL between the wall 35 and a penetrated package (during rotation of the cap 38, for example), it may be de- sirable to provide a reduced surface engagement area on the cap 38 such as that illustrated at 42, The surface 42 nay be provided with a recess to accept the end of the member 12, 85 desired, Finally, to

Hn 1h : provide a compresgef’atate RpRee 12 having en~ hanced stability, tho gis surfaces 36 may be pro=- vided with raced: the regions indicated at Ul, the plateaus being either ramps of reduced angle or nflat" portions. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the in- : vention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically . described. :

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Go, - 13 = .

Claims

WHAT IS CLATMAD IS:

1. A tap for aseptic carton packages, said tap comprising: "a body; A Co Ge . 5 | a package pene tratid tip, dxtending from the body os Bpndiiate wnd'peckage to produce a hole in the, phckae, including a generally conical Yortion and an extending stem joined to each other at a shoulder; . a liquid passageway extending from the tip and through the body for dispensing the © liquid from the package; oo a fluid passageway extending from the tip and : through the body for admitting make-up air to the package} ’ cylindrical means for engaging the package : wall, said cylindrical means being of a re- gilient material and being configured to fit over the stem to extend within the package through the package penetration hole, -and said oo cylindrical means having a first diameter withe in the package; and means for expanding a portion of the cylindri- cal means within the package to a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is BAD ORIGINAL greater than the first diameter and greater . 7 than the package penetration hole diameter : in order to anchor the tip within the pack- .agee

2. The aseptic package tap of Claim 1 wherein said body comprises a phatform, and said package en- gaging means further compriding:’ ~ platen positioied between said platform and cy- lindrical, redliient means, said platen and platform being generally parallel and rotas- able relative to each other; and : cam means and cam follower means carried by said platen and platform in cooperating relation to each other, the distance between said

15 . platen, and platform being selectively esta- blished by the relative rotational orienta- . tion of said platen and platform wherein said cylindrical resilient means urges said platen and platform toward each others. : 20 3, The aseptic package tap of Claim 2 wherein said cam means comprise multiple cams extending from said platform toward said platen, and said cam fol- lowers comprise multiple ramps carried by said platen each cooperating with a different one of said camso BAD ORIGINAL Cie o TT

Lk, The aseptic package tap of Claim 3, where— in said cam followers further comprise a plateau re— gion wherein said cylindrical, resilient means is maintained in a stable, compressed state EE

5. The aseptic package tap of Claim 2 wherein said platform is genergaa Fouls, said ‘platen de~ fining the end gest Bgeai®eap eg She cap having a side-~ wall extending over \ pofeton of said body. N-

6. The aseptic package tap of Claim 5 wherein said cam means comprise multiple cams extending from : said platform toward said platen, said cam followers : : comprising multiple ramps carried by said platen each cooperating with a different one of said cams.

7. The aseptic package tap of Claim 6 wherein said cam followers further comprise a plateau ToL region wherein said cylindrical, resilient means is maintained in a stable, compressed state.

+ 8. A tap for aseptic carton packages, said tap comprising: . : a body; a package penetrating tip extending from the body to penetrate the package to produce a hole in the package, including a generally oo | © BAD ORIGINAL eremetth conical portion and an extending stem oo joined to each other at a shoulder; a liquid passageway extending from the tip and through the bedy for dispensing liquid from the package; a fluid passageway extending from the tip and through the body for adfitting make-up air to the package; . oe? cylindrical means for engaging the package wall, : said cylindrical means being of a resilient ~ material and being configured to fit over the stem to extend within the package through the package penetration hole and to abut said ’ shoulder between said body and said tip; and means for urging the exterior cylindrical sure face of said cylindrical means against said . wall within the package penetration hole in ’ order to anchor the tip within the packages

9. The aseptic package tap of Claim 8 wherein said body comprises a platform, and said package en- gaging means further comprising? | oo platen positioned between said platform and cylindrical, resilient means, said platen and platform being generally parallel and rotatable relative to each other; and SALE Ls

, cam means and cam follower means carried by said platen and platform in cooperating re- lation to each other, the distance between said platen and platform being selectively established by the relative rotational orientation of said platen and platform wherein said cylindgissl Fesiliont means urges aid platen dnd platform toward each Coan aa other. CY Os oh ; y

10. The aseptic package tap of Claim 9 wherein said cam means comprise multiple cams extending from : said platform toward said platen, and said cam fol~ : lowers comprise multiple ramps carried by said. platen each cooperating with a different one of said cams.

11. ‘The aseptic package tap of Claim 10 wherein said cam followers further comprise a plateau region : ’ wherein said cylindrical, resilient means is maintained in a stable, compressed state.

12. The aseptic package tap of Claim 9 where- in said platform is generally circular, said platen defining the end wall of a cap and the cap having a sidewall extending over a portion of said body.

13. The aseptic package tap of Claim 12 where- in said cam means comprise multiple cams extending BAD ORIGINAL

~ from said platform toward said platen, said cam fol- oo lowers comprising multiple ramps carried by said © platen each cooperating with a different one of said camse 14, The aseptic package tap of Claim 13 where- : in said cam followers further comprise a plateau re= gion wherein said cylindrical, resilient means is main~ tained in a stable, compressed state. _ ooh ro af Wo PU ET . aS 1 WN ! ' Be yy : * ™ od GO RIKU H.

RAUTSOLA - : VICTOR KRUTTEN Inventors